My name is Carine, and I am the mother of a little princess for almost 7 years.
I’m a researcher in physical chemistry. I like to search, find solutions and transmit my knowledge. When my daughter was born, I started working part-time to have time with her, to see her grow, learn and play. It was my way of combining my professional and personal life.
No, sweetie, it’s too big, we can’t put it in the bag… Find something smaller, please!
How many times did I say that to my daughter before I took the train to bring her to the daycare before going to work! It all started there… When she was 2 years old and I had to keep her busy for an hour on public transport before or after dropping her off at the daycare.
Like many working parents, I am often on the move (car or public transports) and with my daughter. So I am looking for something
- fun for her
- practical for me
In short, I want my daughter to be comfortable, even if we have to go somewhere.
Disappointed by some of the classic toys on the market
I found that many toys on the market did not meet our needs. They were
- too heavy: I didn’t feel like I would be able to carry them in my bag all day,
- too big: some of them didn’t even fit into my bag – already big – which must contain my work and all I need for my daughter,
- too noisy: because we take public transport, I don’t want to disturb the people around us. Anyway I don’t think I’d like to be disturbed while driving, or my daughter to get excited again by any noisy toy after a day at the daycare.
Not to say that many of them are in plastic. I am not a 100% against plastic person, but I like my daughter to have some activities with soft materials.
From the sensory approach inspired by Maria Montessori …
I finally came to the idea of creating something that would fit our situation and needs. I started with a doll’s house book that fits in my handbag and a soft memory that can be slipped in my jeans pocket. My daughter loved them instantly. These creations saved us many hours on trains, during holidays, in waiting rooms. We managed to have quiet moments in places that were, initially, not planed for this.
5 years later, my daughter continues to play with them, at home too. While creating them, I realized that I could put so much more in them : it’s not only a doll’s house to play with. Because I added specific manipulations, the doll’s house was, for me as parent, a tool for potty training and bedtime : By reproducing the gestures for her doll, it helped my daughter to accept them for her.
Friends and interested people I met on the train were very enthusiastic and encouraged me to create my brand. This is how titoudou was born.
… to playful and educational tools to help children grow up.
I used my experience with my daughter to create more handmade creations that are suitable for children… and parents: they are small, light, easy to store, washable… and always with an educational aspect.
Indeed, there is an educational aspect in every tool I create: from the fluorescent cuddly toy that helps a child to fall asleep, to the quiet book pages for the development of fine motor skills or the recognition of colors, shapes or sizes, not to mention a series of creations devoted to the emotions (learn them, recognize them, help to communicate).
I am convinced that a child learns and remembers better by playing. My goal with titoudou is to help you, as parents, to help your children grow up.